SA KAEO, Thailand — Thai military forces apprehended three Chinese nationals early Friday morning as they attempted to cross the border illegally from Cambodia into Thailand, claiming they were fleeing forced work in scam operations in Poipet.
Soldiers from the Burapha Task Force arrested the men, aged 20, 21, and 29, around 2 a.m. near Ban Khok Sabaeng village in Tha Kham subdistrict, Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo province.
The trio were found without identification documents but were carrying six mobile phones, raising suspicions among authorities.
According to their statements, the men said they had traveled from Yunnan Province, China, through Myanmar before being brought into Cambodia by an unidentified Thai individual who promised them work. Upon arriving in Poipet, they claimed they discovered the jobs involved scam operations, prompting their escape.
However, investigators expressed doubt over their story due to inconsistencies in their testimonies. When questioned about critical details—including company names, how much they paid for the journey, or the nature of the promised work—the men claimed ignorance, contradicting their earlier assertion that the jobs did not match the original agreement.
The presence of six mobile phones has further fueled suspicions, as such devices are commonly used in call-center scams that target victims across Asia.
“All three gave vague and conflicting details, making it unclear whether they are true victims or possibly connected to organized scam networks seeking to enter Thailand,” an official familiar with the investigation said.
The suspects were transferred to Khlong Luek Police Station for further interrogation. Authorities are working to trace their travel routes and connections, aiming to determine whether their arrest could help expose larger criminal networks operating between China, Cambodia, and Thailand.
